Hood control for motor cars



Nv. 2, 1943. A. cLAuD-MANTLE 2,333,467.

HOOD CONTROL FOR M/OTOR CARS Filed March 3l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1943. A. cLAuD-MA-NTLE 2,333,467

I 'Hoon CONTROL FR MOTOR CARS Filed Maron 51, 1941- 4 sheets-sheet 2 33 47 Jgg 3.334, J1

M Ms @2 Nov. 2, 1943. A. cLAUD-MANTLE 2,333,467

HOOD CONTROL FOR MOTOR CARS l Filed March Sli 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 2, 1943. A.' 'CLAUDMANTLE 2,333,467

HOOD CONTROL FOR MOTOR CARS Filed March 3l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Il 111111111111/ g nnnnnnnnn r l A Patented Nov. 2, 1943 2,333,467 HOOD CONTROL FOR MOTOR CARS Arthur Gland-Mantle, Trumbull, Conn.assignor lto The Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application Mfarch 31, 1941, Serial N0. 385,981

e 8 Claims.

This invention relates to hood Acontrols for motor cars, and it has `special reference to latching mechanisms concealed within the hood por- (ol. 292-48) f tion of the car and releasable only from the interior of the car. The inventionalso has special reference to devices of this nature in which the hood proper, that, isto say, the ,upper movable part of the engine enclosurefis Yhinged at the rear and adapted to be opened by lifting from the front end of the car, being ofthe alligator type.-

One object ofY my invention is to provide means for insuring the secure holding and retention of the hood at the rear portion 'as well as the front portion by the'use of a multiple latching or bolting device operable from a 'single point.

Another object is toprovide a simple'and satisfactory multiple latching arrangement for this purpose.

Another purpose which I have in view ,is the provision of improvedlatching means for latching and holding the hood or lid adjacent its front end.

It is also desired to furnish improved meansV controlling the lifting of. the'hood so that upon release of the latching means from the interior of the car the hood Will be lifted to a Vcertain extent.

in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafterdescribed'and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Eg. l is a top plan view of the front portion of a motor car showing in dottedzlines a hood-latching and controlling device-embodying my invention; y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thelatching and controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the latching position being shown in full lines and the unlatched position being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken near the center showing the forward'portion of the latching mechanism of Fig. l, the same being in the latched position, -this view showing a part of the front portion of the hood and a part of the front portion of the engine enclosure;

Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig-3, illustrating, however, the position in which-the hood is unlatched but only partially openand still under the control of the safety catch;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View, with parts broken away, of some of the' mechanism of Fig. 3, the parts being shown in the latched position;`

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively sections on lines 6 6 of Fig. 5 and 1 1 of Fig. 6; f

To these and otherends the invention consists Fig. '7A is a fragmentary'view o f the bottomn'rof the upper plate; Y

Fig. 8 shows onl av larger scale certain kparts illustrated in the right-hand yportion of Fig.2;

Fig. 9 is a topy plan viewpartly in lsection of certain parts shown inFig, 8;

Fig. -10 shows' in transverse sectioncertain parts illustrated in Fig. 9, the -latching rod for the rear portion of the hoodbeing in the unlatched position; ,v

Fig. 11 is section on line ll`i| of Fig.- 10; and. f

Figs. 12, 13, 14 andV 15 are details of the actuat-v ing mechanism located within the car, Fig. 12

being a side elevation `partly ins'ection, Fig. 13

being afront `view partly in section of the actuating lever bracket, thelever beingpartly broken away, Fig. 14 beinga section on lline llli4 of Fig. 12, and Fig. lbeinga section on line |5-I5 In the form of my invention selected for 'illustration, I have shown .a motorcar-.provided with an alligator type hood. The. hood .carries in,-

teriorly adjacent the kfront end thereof, and at oppositel sides of the mediany line,i devices forming -parts'of latches adjacent the respective sides e of the hood. Adjacent there'ar end of the hood the same carries interiorly members forming parts e of latch devicesadapted to retain and hold down n the hood at opposite sidesA in locations nearthe. hood-hinging axis. Thus in'this preferred form the hood is latched down at four points, twoadjacent the front end and two adjacent the rear end. The latch devices operating at these points are all adapted. tobereleased simultaneously by actuationof a device such as a lever mounted Within` the car at a convenient point near the,V4 driver, and'for purposes of simultaneous operation Y a linkage `is'employedconnecting the frontlatch devices to .the rear ones and the rear onesto thev actuating lever;v supposing the hood tobe in the v closedposition, the actuationy of the actuatingv lever causes the latch devices to be released. `AA spring, coming into action at this timeand cooperating With the forward portionY ofthehood,Y Y

causes the frontY portion of the hoodV to be lifted to a certain extent, althoughit is still under the.. l

control of theusual safety catch; and upon manipulation of the safety catch bythe attendant at the service station `the hoodA cany be lifted to the full extent. y

In the drawings, the hood is shownat 20,1the.-

` same being hinged at the rear and cooperatingY with the usual fixed lowermember 2l -of the engine-enclosure. The actuating lever Vwithin the car is'shown at 22, this being at the rear of the partition 22a between the engine compartment and the car interior. The latch mechanism at the front part of the hood is indicated generally at 23, while the latch mechanism at the rear portion of the hood is indicated generally at 24. The radiator of the caris indicated at 25, and in this particular case the radiator supports a portion ofthe operating linkage, thisioperating linkage being generallyl indicated atZ: `The' safety catch or dog associated with the front latching mechanism is indicated at 21. The operating linkage k2li consists principally of -threeMsections, namely, a front section 28, Va middle section 29, and a rear section 30,1the latterfsectionsv being connected to the actuating-lever *22.311

Referring now to the detail structure of the f* forward or front end latc'hing Vmechanism 23, it f will be noted that I mount upon the xed part of the engine enclosure in any appropriate man ner.-a transverseplate ,131, vwhich is termedw thelower plate, and which cooperates witlfi-.al trans. verse upper plate32 carried byVK the .hood adja, cent the-front enduit-.the` latter.-y Mounted upon rod 33 having suitable `bearings ,34. .,'Atffthe ends of the rod the same is bent .togprovideintegral' crank p ortions which arefadapted to cooperate =v with f certain parts ,carried by. or?. forming .parts of the upper plate 32 in suc-h a manner as to latch and holdsfthe` hood.- .At `its intermediate portion and in a region near the rear edge of plate.

3|,grod,33 is bent,v asl indicated-at 36, to provide a crank portion by means of `whichfthe. rod can be rocked in,itsybearings, andin this particular case rocking is'accomplishedr by means oa" plate 31 having a hole 38by which it engages the crank. Y,

at .the outer partof the.latter. Below, the hole 38 Itheplate `31 is providedwithav hole. 3,9`, and in r the hole 39 is engaged the rear end of a coiled springAll; the front endof .which springfis hookedintolan opening'linza lange 4 2.depending iromv plate 3|;along its :forward edge'.r In-.the: flatching 1 position .the .plate v31 extendsirearwardly. andfup-p; wardly.and .atfitsupper'endit is provided=iw1th a Aila'nge .43bygmeans of 'which itis connected :to section 281loff-the :operating linkage, this .section rigidly'tothe plate 31; f s

Inorder to cooperaterwith the'A crank-like .-ex ..v tremities v35 of the rocking rod, theV .upper plate. I 32 AYis provided witheparts :or members;present1ng rodhavinga threaded lowerzend portionn engaged-'by rnuts A44 and; A5ff-locatedfre+ speotively below andlabove .flange 43,-',V and';c ooper. l 1 ating withsaid flange tosecure section. orirod 28 A;

longitudinal grooves orA channels adapted. to beH engaged and disengaged bysaid'extremities.; It v:

is preferred to provide 'the upper plate at its lower Vsurface with transverse grooves adapted to Vbe Aengaged by. the .rodw exfmembers .presenting tremities; In the form shown these transverse l,

members the upper plateas 4by welding.

As shown in Fig.A 4,

are of sheet metal;las indicatedati;` these members being bent to provide. grooves 41,-;

andssaid members beingssuitably attached-to ,65

the `groovesy lvaredocatedv i at.the`lforward parts-of the memberspmwsaid parts iB-ehavirlgin this Vlocation a lowergilange 48 -as well as an upper rear the member 46 is .cut Aaway, and hasv only an upper ange. This provides on members A6 @portions .which the. rod'extremitiesgare free.V toangez; but toward the swingbefore'entering, :the spaces between ;the f loweranges 48 and theupperrflangesg; p Upon being-,lowered ,into `cooperation with Lthe Vin an-upwardzadrearward direction to a point "adjacent'thetop of Vthe radiator 25, and at that pointfit is pivotedtothe intermediate cranklFig-z5, andronerfoff-these rearwardly projecting portions being indicated at 5| in Fig. 5.

- From-theplatef31frod or section 28 extends shaped` part 52 of a. swinging member53 pivoted on the-'front upper portion of the radiator structurebya bracketf54.: Theilinkage section or rod 29is also/pivotedto:thefpart152.' Preferably the rods;,28 and 29: ha.ve:endF portions arranged side by side and \,bent-.around.-part 52;. i

Rod ,.-25 v. extends `rearwardly Minto cooperation with? thecrearf-,latching mechanismen, .as .shown f in Figsfl and2, and the particular rear latching mechanismmseddn:thisrcase is illustrated in de- Y tail in Figs- 8A to;1'1, inclusives@ In this particular case vthe -rear-.latching-mechanism cooperates with hood propsof theiusualfkind associated with .the rearx portionnof the hoodzat thesides lthereof l for the. purpose of holding ther hood fin-the praised .-position .-whenthateis".'desired ,I-Iowever, this is merely by way?, of .;,-,example,.- fon ,the f rearv latch mechanism,may..be nused: in some .cases entirely independentlypfany hood .props which may, be

used. In the form illustrated each hood prop, which is generallyindicated at.55comprisestog .gle elements, and a latchmechanismis arranged to ,coopearte Awitha projection on ,a toggle ele.

ment of each'prop in orde to hold the hood',v down in the closedposition. lThe latching rnerch-A anism comprisesta rocking rodrofthe' samegeneral nature as the' rocking rod ,33;5 previously described.: In-thisparticular case;the"hood is provided-y ateach sideiwith a bracket member 56 to which is pivoted `at 51 a toggle element, 58, which brackets,l Aconstitute thesprop; and'. in` the closed position of-the fho'odf-the' -prop l--has a folded position shown: in'Fig- 8.)AInthis1position a projection 63 extending rearwardly from toggle element 58 :lis adapted' torbeiengaged:V from above` bythecrankdike extremity-Skoften' rocking-rod. 65, which inithis'icaseriormsia part,.of .thelatching mechanismMZ; .Th'enrcdshas two such crank-..-4 like extremities; OneLonieach sideiof'the hood,to' cooperate withl the r respectivevprop; ,The frockf ing 4rod is rpreferably ='mountedrongthe iptrtitiorr. 22a, for rocking.movementrinsuitable bracketsr. Y Atzits middleI portiont rockingi-rod .-165 f has an integral bent crankfportonzlbyvnieans ofwhich the y,samercan-.ba actuated-,yqandthis bent. portion engages a hole; `68- in the-,rear .portion, of .a plate 69 :connected .to-ther freargportion'; of rod'329 .v by

4means of a ilangefg'lz on,said,-plate 65,"and nuts 'H engaging t the. rod at .oppositeiaces of thelange. Alongsidethe platelyandf also in engagement,... with the crank. port'ionjlill is;an-eyel.2formed at the .forwardendo'f therea'nsection or-..rodf3|l, so .75 xthat from lever 22 gthefrockigrod, i 5.ean`be f rocked in its bearings `into latchingxor unlatching relation to the latching member 63. 'I'he vintermediate part of the rocking rod-is supported from the partition member22a. by a suitable bracket 13...In the latching` position the crank extremities of the rocking rod have an approximately horizontal position, as shown inFig.8, and in the released position these crank portions are swung upwardly to a position such as shown in Fig. 10.

The rear end of the linkage section or rod 38 is located back of the partition 22a, said rod passing through a clearance opening 'I4 in said partition, and the rear'end of said rod is connected, by means including a nut engaging threads 16 on therool, to the forward -end of a clip member 'l1 of bifurcated form having legs Ldisposed at opposite faces of a bracket 18. This bracket is suitably supported adjacent the instrument vided with an inclined slot 19 through whichV passes a pin 80 serving as apivotal mounting for thelever. VAt one side of the bracket the pin 86 has a head 8l, and between this head and one wall of the bracket is a vibration damping spring 82. At the opposite side of the bracket the pin is held in place by a washer 83 and a cotter pin vided with a relatively deep inclined notch 85 adapted to engage a cross pin 86 carried by the At the upper end of the lever 22 its body is pro.- I

rear end portion of the clip 'Il and passing through the walls of the bracket. walls are provided with irregular elongated vslots 81 in which the cross pin 86 is adapted to travell in the manner hereinafter described. The slots 8l are for the most part horizontal, but at their rear ends they are provided with depending curved portions 88 in which, when the lever is in the latching position, the pin 86 is received.v The pin 86 is held in place by a head 89 at oneside of the bracket and a cotter pin 90 at the oppo site side. y

When the latching mechanism has the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 2, the hood is locked down at four points, as previously explained. The forward latch mechanism Ithen has the position shown in Fig. 3, andthe rear latch mechanism has the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The actuating lever 22 has the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12. When the car arrives at the filling station for service, the driver releases the hood by actuation of lever 22, which for this purpose has its lower end pulled in a rearward direction, as indicatedrby the dotted lines in Fig. l2. The lever swings on the pivot 80, and as the upper end of the lever moves in a forward direction, the cross pin 86 .of clip 'H is cammed upwardly and forwardly in slots 81 by the notched upper end of the lever, the lever being capable of some upward movement to permit this by virtue of the provision of slot 19. As the pin 86 is xed to the clip 11, the clip is thrust forwardly (with some incidental upward movement), and the forwardthrust-causes the front end of rod 3U to rock. rockingrod V65 to the. releasing position The bracket s shown in Fig'. 10, thus releasing the rear hood catches or latches, which in this case are associated with props 55. At the same time that this action is taking place, the plate 69 is being shifted forwardly from the position shown in Fig. Y8 to that 'shown in Fig. 10, and this causes yrod 29 to be thrust forwardly to the position shown in Fig.'4, and Ywhen the rod 29 is in this position the rod 28 has been thrust forwardly and downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, -which bringsV about the release of the forward hood catches through the downward movement of theplate 3l and the rocking movement of the rocking rod 33 caused by such downward movement.

The forward hood latch being in the position shown in Fig. 3, initially, and each rod extremity 35 being part way along vthe length of the grooved or channeled portion transversely arranged with respect tothe upperk plate and carried thereby, the downward and forward push imparted to plate 31 causes the intermediate crank portion of rod 33 to' be pushed down, and.

each extremity 35 swings upwardly and rearwardly, maintaining engagement with the upper ange 49 and lifting the upperplate, with the hood and other parts carried with it, to the position shown in Fig. 4, wherethe rod extremity is slightly to the rear of iiange 48. Therefore, ,the hood is in a position to be lifted farther, but` first the safetyl catch 21 will have to be released by engaging its forwardly projecting pad 2lib so as to swing its lower hook 2lb out of the path of flange 42 of the'lower plate to the position indicated in dotted lines inFig. 4.

It is important, howevenzto-consider the function of the coil spring 40. In :the position of Fig.

3 this spring is under tension, and its rear end,`

acting on the `lower end of plate 3l, urges the latchingV extremities of rod 33 in a clockwise direction, -as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. In

otherwords, this spring `urges the latching members 35 toward. a released position. This tendency is overcome, however, by the securement of lever 22 and itsconnected linkage vagainst movement by the provisions previously described.` As a matterof fact, the linkage is directly and effectivelydogged in the latching position because the cross pin 86, iixedly carried by the linkage, is held in the rear parts'of slots 87 and cannot be moved in a forward direction except at such time as lever 22 is operated.

Reverting to the ,spring .156,.it will be observed that this spring not only has a latch-releasing tendency, but also a tendency to lift the hood, because of the fact thatin the latched position the rod extremities 35 are located under ,the upper plate structurein such a relation that upon raising the rod extremities from the lower plate, the upper plate and hood are necessarily lifted.

When it is desired to release the hood the lever 22 is manipulated in the manner. previously described, giving ythe linkage a forward thrust which causes release of the latch gdevices. rIhe hood is movedupwardly by the thrust on the linkage and `by vthe spring 48 and is held in a slightly raised position by the spring. The props 55 are partially unfolded. Thesafety' catch is then operated to permit the.I hoodto be fully,

end is grasped and pulled down and the safety.

Y catch, which has the usual spring, engages the lower plate. and is vswung outoi-the way, and the upper .plate vcomes down .into engagement lwith the rod extremities 35, and ;under .manual pressure i on'.A `the .A hood. acts .to f1 force. them down- Shortly after reaching ,theposition'shownin Fig".

4, .the rod :extremities :pass `into theirear. endsiof :3i the.,g-rooves or :,channels, and iinally thelatching'4 mechanism atHthe ,front of the'hood-fcomesitor:

the position shown.in.Fig..3.as.a result. of .downz- 1 i ward pressurev on the. .hood, which: causes.. .ten- 1. u sioning rof the ispring x40 and .upward movement.. z; ofi-od 28. I To'lcomplete'the latching ofthe. hoodw.

the linkageis pulled rearwardly. bylever 22,5'fand this rearward pull causes thel .rear 4latch devices to .be moved ;t`o i the:y latching position, .andi also .l

causes the clogging of ythe-linkage in its rearward;

position, as previously explained. u

Bylmy -invention- .the .hood can. be eiectively latched and .held .at` a plurality of points, .pref` "f erably foun. so .,thahwhen-closed it will/befmain-A tained nunderffeffective :'control. :.Yet notwith-' standingfthe, usei of vmultiple latching. devices; the

structure is .simplen relatively inexpensive; and effective s in foperationrf.: Releasef ofv the .pluralx` latching devices can be readilyiand conveniently brought about .by-thes driver efrom-.the-drivers' seat. f Accessato:thevparts withinztheIhoodg-aeX-g i cept by.' authorizedapersons,` is prevented'. In a simplezimanner. the. hood is raised toa slight'de-`A gree as soon `as the vlatching .mechanism .-is ireleased by the. car drivenfandlthus the. attendant attthe .filling :station :canfhaveready access Ato the;;safety 4catchrand .can complete :the raising.

of Ithe hood. The-mechanism: for ylatchingandpartially liftingqthe' upper plateand the-hood` attached :thereto .is inexpensive'and :has relatively few parts, andpperatesdn'i aeveryfeiective manner, the.` springzfpressedtextremities of .-thel rocking rod adjacent=the forward'fend of thelhood having a hood-raising as well as ahood.releas..= ing action .upon lupward swinging 'movement :of x: said.. extremities-l With lrelatio'n nto'` .the-f plate on f which they are mounted, .whichfswingingfmovez ment-causes the hood plateito befcammed'f'upe.:

wardly.: On the downward: movement of theirL hood, the rod extremities, once theyienter. their'.` grooves, are'inholding rel-ationto the hood, .andy by Vforcing the. hood down'fthe"movable4` latching., partions. or catchescan becammed to theiaposietionA in which they are'to be/lockedfor 'doggedbyi actuation of thefhandlever.'v x While -I have shown; herein but onerembodiment :of .my invention, it will beiunderstood that f..

it is capable of many diierent'embodiments,` and.A

that various modi'cations and 1 changes in :the organization of parts and-in the detailscan'fb'e n made :without departing ".fromv` the principles of 5r the invention or the scope'of the: claims.

What I..claim is: C Y 1. In'a latch mechanism'forreleasably 'securing a rearwardlyi'pivoted hood, opening at the front, to a fixed part of the engine enclosure,l al

plurality yof latch-*devicesifor latching together the fixed and movable parts, two of said fdevices being located toward the front end ofthe hood at opposite sidesithereof .and two'beingf locatedadjacent 'the rearY end` ofthe" hoodat opposite sides thereof, and meansincluding-a linkageand-A f an operating lever Wherebyall of said devices are operable from the'interiorof the car, the forward latching devices including a common operating member vand the-l rearward latching .devices also` including a common. operating member. Y

2. Ing-a latch ,mechanism lfor..releasably see- 1 curing a rearwardly. pivoted hood yopeningtat ther. front, tora lixed` part. of .the..engine;.enclosure, a

pluralityeof latchldevice's :for flatching ftogether the xediandmovablm parts, htwocof .said. vdevices-L75 aassglrer. f

being'llocated toward 'the front'i'end'of .theho'od at z opposite sides thereof andzftwoxbeing.' located adi jacentztherear .end '.offthe hood at opposite'sides e thereof,;'and means including a linkage and an i pperatinglever whereby? :al1 of :saiddevices are'I operable from theinterior. of the car, the. forwardlatching.. devices' including. aV common. operating .1. i member::and vthe Lrearward latching: devices also.v including a` common operating member, said com-'v` Imon operating members being constituted-hilf" rocking :rods` arranged. transversely of theI hood having.cranklike extremities.

3. lIn la latch mechanism forzreleasably-securinga rearwardly pivote'd. hoodyopening: at .the 1 iront; to a xedpartoftheengine enclosure, a

plurality'of latch ,devicesfor latching together-4 the fixedzandy movable parts;` two ofsaid devices being: ilocatedrtoward the. front end of thef hood i at'opposite sidesthereof `and two being'locatedl` adjacent vthe rear end of the hoodv at Opposite sides Y thereof., and means including a linkage and an'-v operating lever whereby vall of said-.devices are= operable from..the interior of Athe car, 4the -forward latching devices including' a common oper' .ating member and `the'rearward latching devicesI also including a common operating member, said common operating members being constitutedb rocking rodsr arranged transverselyof thelhoodhaving crank-likeextremities, the rocking rodl lo- V*cated toward the frontend of `the* hoodbeing f carried by a xedlower `plate and the rockingrod located adjacentithe rear end'of the hood bei ing mounted. on a fixed party adjacent the'rear of the engine compartment.

4. In a hoodcontrol device for motorl cars, a fronti latching mechanism `for a rearwardly Apivoted hood comprising a fixed lower plate, a lift able upper plate, and meansforinterlatchingsaid plates, a rear latchingmechanism'for retaining and holding down thef'hood adjacent the rear endl forsaid linkage to move the samev so as to 'latch the hood, and means releasable only by saidoperatingY means for dogging the linkage in a position in 'which the latchingmechanisms are heldiagainst release. A

6. v'In a hood ycontrol device for-:motor cars-,l a latching mechanism for the forwardpart of a A rearwardly pivote-d'- hood opening y atfthe?v` front, comprising `a fixed lower plate, -a liftable upper plate; 'and interlatching *mechanism* for'V Isaid vplates, a latching mechanismfor theI rear'endl portion ofthe hood, a common operating `linkage for'said latchingf mechanisms, operating means for zsaid linkage, and means' releasable only byAv said operating means for-dogging" theflinkagerin a position in v,which the latching mechanisms arev held against release,I saidlinkage-operating meansA comprising a lever, and said'last-named'vmeans.: comprising a clogging'rnr member which vis moved' L -outof clogging position by actuation ofvsaidlever.' I

7. In" a latch mechanism forreleasably-securing a rearwardly. pivoted lid-type hood, opening. at thev front, tol thelower fixed 'part `of l an engine.. enclosure, a Aplurality of latcliingdevices` fo1::.-. latchingtogether' the :fixedand movable-partei.

two of said devices being located toward the front end of the hood at opposite sides thereof and two being located adjacent the rear end of the hood lat opposite sides thereof, the forward and rearward latching devices each including a, common rocking rod arranged transversely of the hood and having crank-like latching extremities, the crank-like extremities of the forward rocking rod being engageable with parts carried by the hood at its under front portion and the crank-like extremities of the other rod being engageable with parts attached to the hood adjacent its pivoted end, a linkage disposed in a generally forward and rearward direction beneath the hood and connected to said rods so that by rearward pull' on the linkage the hood is latched at the front and at the rear, and a lever located within the interior of the car for operating said linkage.

8. In a latch mechanism for releasably securing a rearwardly pivoted lid-type hood, opening at the front, to the xed lower part of an engine enclosure, a xed lower plate carried by the fixed part of the engine enclosure at its front portion, a liftable upper plate carried by the hood near its front end, means comprising a rocking rod mounted on the fixed lower plate for interlatching said plates, a rear latching mechanism for retaining and holding down the hood adjacent the rear end thereof comprising a transversely arranged rocking rod mounted on the fixed part of the engine enclosure, and a common operating linkage for said rods operable by pull from the car interior for latching the hood at the front and rear.

ARTHUR CLAUD-MAN'I'LE. 

